“No Kings” | New day of mobilization against Trump

(Washington) Major demonstrations against Donald Trump began on Saturday across the United States, from New York to San Francisco, during a day of mobilization already demonized by the right, which castigates a movement of “hate against the United States”.

Gathered around the rallying cry “No Kings”, millions of Americans must march to denounce “the authoritarian takeover” of the Republican president, organizers said.

In the Forest Hills neighborhood of New York, hundreds of people gathered mid-morning, chanting the slogan “we love our country, we cannot stand Trump”.

“This president is a shame and I hope there will be millions of people in the streets today,” Stéphanie, 36, who preferred not to give her last name, told AFP.

More than 2,700 rallies are planned for the day in large cities as well as in small rural communities, and even… near the president’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, where he is spending the weekend.

In mid-June, a first day of mobilization organized by the “No Kings” collective, which brings together some 300 associations, brought together millions of people of all ages, the largest protest since the Republican’s return to the White House.

Enough to irritate Donald Trump, who celebrated his 79th on the same day^e anniversary with a military parade with great fanfare in the streets of the American capital.

“Terrorist”

While he had threatened in June to respond to protesters with “very strong force,” he soberly commented this week on Fox News: “They call me a king. I am not a king. »

But several figures in his party went so far as to compare the demonstrators to terrorists.

Speaking of a “hateful mobilization against the United States”, the Republican leader of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson said: “I bet you will see supporters of Hamas and antifa”, in reference to this political movement recently classified as a “terrorist organization” by the president.

Minnesota elected official Tom Emmer accused the Democrats of having given in to “the terrorist wing of their party.”

“Don’t let Donald Trump and the Republicans intimidate you and silence you,” retorted the leader of the Democratic senators Chuck Schumer on Saturday, urging Americans to “make their voices heard” in a message on X.

A call to demonstrate which was also shared by unsuccessful 2024 presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Hollywood star Robert De Niro.

Giant balloon

Since his return to power in January, Donald Trump has upset the American democratic balance by encroaching on the powers of Congress and the states and threatening his opponents with legal reprisals.

“He completely violates the law and the Constitution,” storms to the AFP, Ashley, 37, a demonstrator met by the AFP.

This new day of mobilization comes in the midst of a budgetary paralysis of the federal state and while Donald Trump has deployed soldiers in several Democratic strongholds to, according to him, fight against illegal immigration and crime.

As a sign of protest, several parades are to be held in cities where he has sent the National Guard such as Washington, Chicago or Los Angeles, where organizers plan to parade with a giant balloon representing the American president as a child wearing a diaper.

Demonstrations were also planned in Canada, Germany, Spain and Sweden.

The previous day of mobilization brought together several American celebrities, such as actor Mark Ruffalo and comedian Jimmy Kimmel – whose show was temporarily suspended under pressure from the Trump government.